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Topics: Artem Lobov, Conor McGregor, Spotlight, UFC
Nasir Jabbar
Conor McGregor's UFC fight at the White House has 'no chance' of happening unless he makes a major change, according to his former training partner.
McGregor hasn't fought in the UFC since his crushing defeat to Dustin Poirier back in July 2021.
He was due to return to competition last year when he was matched against Michael Chandler, but he was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury in his training camp.
McGregor still hasn't returned to action though he is hellbent on landing on UFC's proposed event at the White House, which is set to take place in June 2026.
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So much so he's already confirmed his opponent for next year's event as Dana White has promised to build the greatest UFC card of all-time.
But McGregor's ex-pal and former training partner Artem Lobov, who resumes his MMA career at PFL Champions Series 3 in Dubai on October 3, isn't convinced the Irishman will fight again unless he changes his mindset.
He insists the 'Notorious' of today won't compete again as he called for the 'old McGregor' to return, claiming that version of the fighter 'can do everything'.
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"So, if it's the Conor that we see now, no chance! This fight is not happening. And it shouldn't even be happening because he's not in the right mindset," he told SPORTbible.
"If it's the old Conor, that's what I want to see. I want to see the return of the old Conor. The Conor that walked into fight [Chad] Mendes with both legs messed up. That camp was a rehab camp. We were doing rehab the whole camp. Opponent changed, knee gone... who cares?! He walked in there and won. He's a winner. He's a champ."
Lobov, who faces Zubaira Tukhugov on the undercard of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2, added: "That Conor is gone. We need to see the return of that Conor. If that Conor returns, he can do everything. He'll destroy Chandler. He can become president. He can do it all.
"But this Conor that we see now, no. He can't do anything. He can't be a president. He can't win a fight. He can't make it to the fight. We know that now. He already pulled out so we know he can't make it to the fight in this state that he is in now. So, that's what I'm calling for, the return of the old Conor McGregor."
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Lobov was in McGregor's camp when he stopped Chad Mendes, who replaced Jose Aldo on short notice at UFC 189.
The 37-year-old went onto dethrone Aldo before beating Nate Diaz and Eddie Alvarez.
The McGregor of 'old' which Lobov refers to was a motivated and supremely focused athlete, who made history when he became the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously.